Maggie’s hand covered hers where it clenched against the counter. “Don’t say any more, Joey. I think I do understand. We all have things we have to do—no matter what the risks.” The redhead broke off, Joey heard a catch in her voice that hinted of personal experience, and memory. “All I can say is that I want you to find what you’re looking for. Just be careful. Be safe. Take care of yourself, okay?”
“I promise I’ll do my best, Maggie.” Joey managed a tremulous smile, and Maggie answered it with one of her own. Unclenching her hands, Joey took another long sip of wine and concentrated on the soothing liquid as it loosened the tightness in her chest. “And now I’ve got to go, Maggie. I’m going to get plenty of rest and gather up the rest of my supplies. I’ll drop in and say good-bye tomorrow evening.”
“That’s a deal.” Maggie swept away the glass and gave Joey a broad wink. “You rest up good, hear? And I’m going to want a full report the minute you get back.”
Joey did not quite meet Maggie’s eyes as she turned for the door. “I will. As soon as I get back.”
Ignoring the flush of guilt at the trust in her friend’s words, Joey could not quite shut out the small voice that taunted her. If I get back.
Joey turned in early that night, careful to avoid anyone who might subject her to questions she had no desire to answer. She spent the next morning collecting the remaining supplies: she would need additional clothing, easily portable foodstuffs, anything she had not already purchased that would stack the odds in her favor.
In the late afternoon she laid out her maps and spent several hours studying them, memorizing the shortest route to her destination. That meant crossing Luke’s land. If he really did try to stop her—she slapped the palms of her hands against the map. She’d deal with that when the time came.
That evening Joey tried to rest before making her last visit to see Maggie. Everything was as ready as it was likely to be, but the twisting thoughts that coiled in her mind would not be silenced. Though the dreams had not plagued her for the past two nights, she could no more drive memories away than she could forget Luke Gévaudan and everything that had passed between them. She had come no closer to understanding him, or herself, where he was concerned; there was only a black pit of confusion, pain, and longing.
Tossing on the bed, Joey fought for the determination that had always been her strength. Now that she was doing it at last—facing something she had worked so long and hard for—it was suddenly very frightening. And she would be facing it by herself, without even the practical help of someone who could guide her and get her there and back in one piece.
Joey was too much a realist—even now—to ignore the facts. What she was doing was foolhardy, insane, even suicidal. She would risk her life and betray the faith of her friends to chase a dream that might not even exist. She might die in those mountains, just as Luke had warned her.
It was small comfort to remind herself that, if she did, she wouldn’t be entirely alone.
Joey spent more time at the tavern that night than she had intended, bolstering her courage and pushing back useless emotion in small talk with Maggie. After last night’s encounter the redhead did not push for more details or further assurances, and Joey accepted that with mingled guilt and gratitude.
On her way to the bar Joey had run into some familiar faces that had momentarily jolted her out of her preoccupation. The pack of young men passed by in a blur at first, until she recognized the blond ringleader and then the others who had confronted her at the lake. For a long moment Joey had wondered if, in the middle of the empty street, they intended to take up where they’d left off; she’d braced herself and stood her ground with more stubbornness than sense.
But they hadn’t taken up her challenge. If anything, their faces had reflected an unease so great that Joey had wondered if she’d suddenly sprouted fur and fangs. The ringleader had muttered something, but his companions had dragged him away so quickly that Joey blinked in astonishment.